Dominic Thiem had never lost a match at the Argentina Open (7-0) heading into Friday evening's quarter-final against home favourite Guido Pella. And while the left-handed Pella produced an inspired performance, the World No. 6 moved into the semi-finals with a 7-6(7), 6-4 victory. It could be déjà vu for Thiem, who is now within two matches of winning his first clay-court event of the season for the third year in a row. After saving five set points prior to the first-set tie-break, Pella earned two set points of his own at 6/4. But Thiem simply was too good in the key moments, earning his 10th tour-level triumph of the campaign. The Austrian will face an in-form Gael Monfils, who...
Kei Nishikori did not play a match after the Rogers Cup last August. So the 28-year-old decided to build up his match toughness on the ATP Challenger Tour to begin the new campaign. And it looks like that move paid off. The Japanese superstar battled past Moldovan Radu Albot to advance to the semi-finals of the New York Open 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 on Friday evening. Nishikori, who won the Memphis Open four years in a row (2013-2016) before the event moved to Long Island this year, is just two matches away from his claiming his first ATP World Tour title since 2016 Memphis. "It was a very tough start. I think he was playing very good tennis," Nishikori said. "During the...
Roger Federer guaranteed his return to No. 1 in the ATP Rankings after beating Dutchman Robin Haase 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. By overtaking Spaniard Rafael Nadal at No. 1 on Monday, Federer will break a number of ATP Rankings records – the longest period between stints at No. 1, the oldest player to attain top spot and the longest duration between first and last days at the summit of men’s professional tennis. Richard Krajicek, the Rotterdam Tournament Director, presented Federer with a special award in an on-court ceremony. "What an amazing run it’s been and a journey it’s been for me throughout, so to clinch World No. 1...
Grigor Dimitrov was solid on serve on Friday as he booked his place in the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament semi-finals where he will meet his good friend and hitting partner David Goffin. It will be the first time the pair has met since the title match at the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals, which Dimitrov won for the biggest trophy of his career. Dimitrov booked his place with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over 20-year-old Russian Andrey Rublev in 77 minutes on Friday. The World No. 5 lost just eight of his first-service points (37/45) and hit 12 aces. He broke Rublev's serve for a 3-1 lead in the first set and at 3-3 in the second set. “I think overall...
Kevin Anderson is the top seed this week at the New York Open for only the fifth time in his 12-year career. But on Thursday on Long Island, the South African played like a man used to the pressure that comes with having a No. 1 next to your name. Mired in a three-set fight against Ernesto Escobedo of the U.S., Anderson didn't move an millimetre in the decider. He won 94 per cent of his service points in the decider (29/31) and pulled through in the tie-break to advance to the quarter-finals 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5). It was their first tour-level meeting, but Escobedo, who, at No. 131, is ranked 110 spots lower than No. 11 Anderson, impressed the 2017...
